Sean S. Cunningham and Victor Miller's Friday the 13th franchise is
one of the most successful horror film franchises in history. To date,
it includes twelve movies, a television show, comic books, and video
games, among other media. In SEE! HEAR! CUT! KILL! Experiencing "Friday
the 13th," Wickham Clayton explores several aspects of the films
including how the technical aspects relate to the audience, their
influence on filmmaking, and the cultural impact of the franchise.
Clayton looks at how perspective is established and communicated within
the Friday the 13th films, which is central to the way the audience
experiences and responds emotionally to these movies. Then he considers
how each sequel gives viewers, whether longtime fans or new audiences, a
"way in" to the continuous story that runs through the series. Clayton
also argues that the series has not developed in isolation. These films
relate to contemporary slasher films, the modern horror genre, and
critically successful Hollywood films in general. They reflect popular
trends of film style and often act as key examples in the genre and
beyond.